The mortal armies devastated the lush wilderness of Fateir within the first year after the Demon King’s demise. I never saw the genuine beauty since fairies granted only a few chosen humans permission to cross the magical barrier. Even from a distance though, Fateir is beautiful with a sense of wonder that is felt and tasted on the air. I forgot that until now.

I sit in the open field, admiring the magnificent trees along the horizon. Mermaids sing from the creeks nearby, trading gems, offering sweet songs to lift spirits, or promising spells to bring rainfall. Pixies flutter through the sky carrying woven baskets of freshly picked flowers and seeds. Hobgoblins wobble along dirt streets with their wares, gossiping in grumbled voices. All familiar yet distant, a life I lived years ago that has returned to me in the blink of an eye. I refuse to lose it again.

“What am I meant to do?” I sigh, as if I expect the Demon King—no—Maven to answer. “Why did you choose me? What can I do to prevent the end? Where do I begin?”

Especially because, no matter how hard I try, I can’t speak or write a single word about the future. I tried. Usually there’s always a catch with fairies. They love loopholes, love riddles, love trickery, but I’ve yet to discover the loophole here. I tried telling Mom earlier, but it felt like someone stuffed cotton in my throat. The words wouldn’t pass my lips. Then I tried writing it on parchment or in the dirt with a stick, but my hand wouldn’t listen. I created meaningless scribbles that left me aggravated.

Every spell has a cost. The cost of sending me to the past must be that I cannot tell anyone of the future. If that’s true, I’m really alone. I finally see my family again, but I’m more alone than ever. What a cruel twist of fate.

What am I meant to do now? I’m nothing more than a farm girl again. My mana is low. I’d be lucky if I could cast a spark. I can’t speak to anyone about this.

Why did he send me back here? Why couldn’t it have been sooner? I could have offered myself as his partner, but if he has already chosen Valerie, aren’t we already doomed?

“We can’t be. We can’t,” I insist, then take a deep breath to calm the nerves gnawing at my conscience. “I asked for another chance and it has been given. All I can do is find a way and—”

“If this doesn’t work, then we look for another way, and if that doesn’t work, then we search for another. Never stop moving.”

Right. I’ll keep my promise, Elion, Briny, Meesha, Haddi, everyone. For you, even if you no longer know me.

“Let’s get to work then,” I say with as much confidence as I can muster.

I visit the marketplace first, which is as bustling as Dad claimed. Shops that were once tattered have been refurbished to the best of the owner’s abilities. Town’s folk have tidied the roads. Windows are gleaming, all to prepare for the Demon King’s arrival, no matter how brief. Listening to the gossip, none speak of the convoy having left the capital, which means Valerie has been chosen, but the celebration of the Choosing Ceremony isn’t complete.

Long before any Choosing Ceremony, mortals and fairies were at war over the bountiful lands of Fateir. Humans specifically sought the Glimmer, the origin of all magic that could give them unbelievable power and wealth, unaware of what it meant to tamper with it. They hoped the Glimmer would achieve what their own magic could not; turning rocks into solid gold or finding the answer to eternal youth. Demons were defenders of the Glimmer since the dawn of time, but they were gradually wiped out until only Maven Athik remained. His inconceivable power and ruthlessness earned him the title; the Demon King. None could defeat him, and yet the wars were never ending. Countless lives lost on both sides.

Then, about four centuries ago, a deal was brokered between fairies and a handful of the western human kingdoms where Maven offered a proposition, a chance to kill him. The mortal sovereigns laughed, believing it to be a bad joke, until he threatened to use the awesome power of the Glimmer to wipe the kingdoms from existence, even if it cost him his life. Fearful, most of the kingdoms agreed to listen to his proposal, suspicious all the while.

Maven revealed his only weakness; the one whom he loves holds his heart, literally. Every 25 years, he will take a willing human partner that he must try to love for 100 days. If he falls in love, they have the power to kill him. The human kingdoms convened, questioning why Maven offered such a deal. Why would he reveal how to kill him? What was he hiding? What was in it for him? But Maven’s threat lingered, and the kingdom’s civilians were tired of losing their loved ones against a foe they could not beat. Since a fairy deal cannot be broken, the kingdoms accepted. The deal was finalized, and the Choosing Ceremony began.

The plan finally works with Valerie Ezirin, who, on the 100th day, holds Maven’s heart and slays him. That means I have at least 100 days to avert the apocalypse, but how? Maven has already chosen her, which means they’ll return to Fateir once the celebrations are over. Once they’re past the barrier, I won’t see them again. I sure as hell can’t sneak in. Maven’s barrier is too powerful.

As I stand among the market observing my frantic neighbors, a possibly brilliant, but also possibly ridiculous idea comes to mind.

This commotion isn’t only about the fairies traveling with the Demon King, but also those traveling with the chosen human. To make sure they are comfortable, safe, and the bargain is being upheld, humans travel alongside the chosen partner. Some are politicians that come and go over the 100 days, others are employees, like handmaidens. If I can’t sneak into Fateir, then I must be let in.

To be close to the both of them, I have to become one of Valerie’s handmaidens and save the future by preventing the Demon King from falling in love.